Incinerator for burning combustible waste and method



Nov. 4, 1969 w. c. RAMIRESQ INCINERA'IOR FOR BURNING COMBUSTIBLE WASTE AND METHOD iled Dec. 13. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Walter C. Ramires Attorneys Nov. 4, 1969 w. c. RAMIRES INCINERATOR FOR BURNING COMBUSTIBLE WASTE AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 13. 1967 Rs 0 V m C r M w W Attorneys United States Patent Int. Cl. F23g 5/00 US. Cl. 110--8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The incinerator comprises a trash-receiving and combustion chamber wherein combustion is accelerated by forced draft, a conjoint water spray washing and centrifuging of the burning product to obtain more complete combustion and comminuting of the solid matter in the products of combustion, recycling of hot gases back into the combustion chamber for further accelerating and completing combustion, and subsequent downstream removal of solids and discharge of essentially smokeless gas and water vapor to the atmosphere.

The present invention, for which the following represents a detailed disclosure, relates generally to the incineration of Waste materials such as paper products, wood, garbage and combustible plastics including bottles such as those used to package chemical compounds found in the home. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel method, and apparatus for providing essentially smokeless incineration of such waste.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an incinerator capable of burning larger amounts of waste materials in a more rapid, efiicient and complete manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide an incinerator, of the character described, which comminutes and physically removes solid by-products of combustion entrained in the gaseous effluent of the burning process.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of burning wastes which result in the separation of solid by-products of combustion, from the gaseous by-products, rendering the efiluent essentially smokeless.

Another, and still further object of the invention, is to provide both a method, and apparatus for accomplishing the method, of disposing of combustible wastes in a manner which complies with all existing known, and contemplated, air pollution laws and regulations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically disposing of the ash normally accumulated during the burning of paper and other waste materials.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of an incinerator constructed in accordance with the present invention, viewing the same from the trash loading, and ash removal side;

3,476,062 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 which in the illustrated case, takes the form of a truncated pyramid. A trash receiving door 14 is suitably located for convenient disposal of trash material onto a grate 15 located within the enclosure above the floor thereof. The grate, which is perforated to permit the ready passage of air therethrough, includes a center section 16 which is rotatable by a handle 17 to dump ash, clinkers and non-combustibles into an ash collecting receptacle 18. In the instance shown, the ash receptacle takes the form of a drawer which is readily removed from the enclosure by pulling on the handle 19 at the base thereof.

Fresh air is primarily provided to the combustion zone by means of a fresh duct 21 located above the grate, and

preferably a self-regulating type of valve 22 is mounted in duct 21 for admitting air to the combustion chamber in accordance with combustion requirements therein. As here shown, a butterfly type valve is here pivotally mounted on a shaft 23 mounted over the center of gravity of the valve disc so as to close when the incinerator is not in use and to open progressively as air is needed for combustion.

In order to increase the capacity and efficiency of the burning process taking place within the combustion zone, combustion is fed by quantities of air drawn through the duct 21. Reduced pressure created in the combustion zone causes fresh air to be drawn through the butterfly valve 22 and into the chamber. This reduced pressure is created, in accordance with the present invention, by means of a blower indicated generally at 25, the details of which may be seen in FIGURE 2.

The blower comprises arotary impeller 27 mounted on a shaft 29 which in this instance comp-rises the shaft of an electric motor 31. The motor is disposed on a support 32, which may, as shown, comprise an extension of the chamber wall structure. The motor is thus positioned immediately adjacent the combustion chamber in a products discharge passage which defines a scrub chamber 33. The scrub chamber terminates in a toroidal casing 35 disposed about the impeller. Rotation of the impeller causes the eflluent from the combustion process, some of which continues to burn as it passes through the scrub chamber, to be drawn into the eye of the empeller and centrifuged through an opening 37, best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. As may be seen in FIG- URE 2, air is also preferably drawn into the enclosure through open spaces 39 about the door 20 of the ash collector 18. Thus, fresh air is not only drawn through the duct 21 to the zone about the grate, but also through the area 39 beneath the grate for flow up through the grate and the lower portion of the combustion chamber for supplying primary air prior to the addition of secondary air through inlet 21.

In the combustion of waste materials which include paper and wood, substantial quantities of solid material are normally entrained in the effluent which emanates from the combustion zone. It is this particulate material which is normally visible in the gases discharged from an incinerator, and colloquially referred to as smoke. It is an attribute of the present invention that these entrained solids are substantially removed from the gases emanating from the instant incinerator.

In furtherance of this aspect of the invention, quantities of water are injected into the burning products of combustion in order to scrub the efliuent. As a result of this scrubbing action, particulate material entrapped therein becomes water laden, and to some extent, separated from the gases.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a spray nozzle 40 is disposed in the scrub chamber 33, and directed at the eye of the impeller 27 of the blower. The spray nozzle is connected, by means of suitable piping 42 to any convenient source of water under pressure. It will be appreciated that the pressure available in normal household water lines is suflicient for the purposes of the unit herein illustrated. It is also understood that factors such as water pressure, and flow rate may be adjusted in accordance with the capacity of the unit to which the present invention is related. As seen in FIGURE 3, a volume control valve 44 is provided in the water line 42 and, if desired, a solenoid operated valve 45 may be provided which is readily wired directly to the electrical toggle switch 46 which operates the blower motor 31. Thus, the water supply becomes available to the system at the same time that the system is rendered operative, and when the system is closed down, water pressure is likewise shut down.

The spray nozzle 40 preferably provides a conical spray pattern, generating a full cone of water droplets which pass through the burning product advancing to the impeller for mixing with the products and for joint centrifuging of the products and water in the impeller. When the device is operating at full capacity, flame propagation will continue to the face of the impeller and the water injection and centrifuging aids in obtaining more complete combustion, provides a cooling effect on the impeller, and causes the solid particulate material to become water laden and scrubbed from the gas.

The water flow is preferably adjusted at such a rate that, while a portion thereof is vaporized, and becomes a part of the gaseous efiiuent passing through the blower, at least part of it remains in liquid form, and passes down through the blower housing, and through the opening 37. This flowing liquid contains particulate matter which has been scrubbed from the gaseous efiluent from the enclosure.

In addition to its function in providing positive drafting of the combustion zone, the impeller also has the desirable effect of comminuting the solids in the effiuent impinging on its face. Thus, larger solid matter, which has become water laden, is broken up into fine particles and further mixed with the water. The impeller then centrifuges this particulate, urging the same outwardly and causing at least some separation with the lighter hot gases. Some of the particles become entrained in the flow of unevaporated water, and those which do not are nonetheless in a finely divided state, flowing toward the lower portion of the opening 37 due to centrifugal action of the impeller.

Further in accordance with the invention, a settling chamber is provided downstream of the impeller, and is indicated generally at 50. With reference to FIGURE 4, the settling chamber includes a main chamber 52 and an upper chamber which, in this instance, comprises a pair of enclosed stacks 54. The efliuent from the blower, under pressure, enters the chamber 52 through the passage 37 at the lower portion of one end thereof. Because of the volume of the tank, the effluent expands into the stacks 54 where its velocity is reduced. As a result, the heavier particles entrained in the eflluent tends to settle out. contemporaneously, the unevaporated water from the nozzle 40 passes through the chamber 52, flowing gravitationally through a conduit 56 into a sump tank 58, along with cooler gases which carry the particulate which was settled out from the gas in the stacks.

The sump tank 58 is disposed beneath the chamber 52, and, of course, beneath the nozzle 40. Thus, gravitational force assists in the purging of the blower housing and the chamber 52. The sump tank 58 accumulates the particulate bearing discharge water. This water is permitted, as many as seen in FIGURE 3, to accumulate at a level which is controlled by means of an outlet pipe 60. In order to prevent any of the gaseous material, which occupies the space above the water level in the tank 58 from passing through the outlet 60, an elbow 61 is immersed in the water so that discharge through the pipe is always in liquid form. This water is conveniently drained to any sewer outlet, and carries with it, the particulate matter previously entrained in the efiluent from the enclosure.

The gases passing from the chamber 52 through the line 56 remain under some positive pressure from the blower, and are directed downwardly against the surface of the water in the tank for entrapment of solid matter in the water and escape of gaseous matter into a stack 63 connected to the tank. Preferably, and as seen in FIGURE 3, the inlet passage 56 and stack 63 are spaced laterally from each other so that the water laden particulate matter is directed downwardly onto the water while the clean gas will accumulate above the surface of the water and pass upwardly into the stack. Thus, the gas entering stack 63 is composed essentially of fully burned products of combustion and water vapor and is free of objectionable particulate matter.

As an important feature of the present construction, conduit means 65 is here connected between the settling chamber 50 and the combustion chamber for recirculation of hot gases and entrained matter from the settling chamber to the combustion chamber. As will be observed, the settling chamber 50 is maintained at an elevated pressure by impeller 27 so as to provide the recirculation of gases which not only aid in the combustion of the burning waste material but also insures complete combustion of the recirculated gases. Preferably and as hereinabove noted, the settling chamber includes a pair of enclosed stacks 54 and a pair of conduits 65 are preferably used with one conduit 65 being connected at one end to one of the stacks and with its opposite end connected to an injection nozzle 67 entering the combustion chamber just over the top of the grate, and with the pair of nozzles 67 thus provided being disposed at opposite sides of the combustion chamber, see FIGURE 2. In this manner, the recirculated hot gases are injected into the combustion chamber from opposite sides for infusion into the rising products of combustion.

While various types of power-driven impellers may be used, I have found that the one here illustrated is very satisfactory. This impeller comprises a back plate 70 and a plurality of radial vanes 71 thereon confronting the combustion chamber. The burning products of combustion are thus drawn through the lateral extension of the combustion chamber to plate 70 and the products and water spray are conjointly centrifuged by vanes 71.

It has been found that the device of the present invention requires very little servicing, and indeed, the ash collector need be emptied only periodically, in that it will contain only clinkers, and other non-burnable matter which may have been included in the original waste placed in the enclosure. The light ash, which falls from the grate into the collector, is picked up by the reduced pressure created in the combustion chamber by the blower, if the same is permitted to run for a period of time after the combustion process is ended. The ash will be scrubbed from the air passing through the incinerator in the same manner as the hot gases were scrubbed and the particulate matter will be discharged through sump outlet pipe 60 which may be conveniently connected to the sewer.

In order to permit periodic cleaning of the sump tank 58 which accumulates the major portion of the solids entrained in the gaseous effluent, a valve 69 may be disposed in the flue 63. After the burning of the charge of trash is completed, valve 69 may be manually operated to close flue 63 which will cause the air pressure generated by the continued operation of the blower to evacuate the water in the sump out through conduit 60 to the sewer or other point of disposal, thus providing an easy and convenient method of cleaning out of the sump.

As will be observed, the operation of the incinerator does not require the use of an outside fuel source such as natural gas, or the like, but is wholly self-contained and operates exclusively from the fuel source of the trash being disposed of. If desired, of course, for ease of initiation of incinerator operation or otherwise, auxiliary fuel sources may be used.

I claim:

1. An incinerator for burning combustible waste material comprising:

a housing providing a combustion chamber having an air inlet opening and an impeller chamber defining a boundary of said combustion chamber and a products discharge passage extending from said impeller chamber;

a power driven rotary impeller mounted in said impeller chamber for drawing burning products to said impeller, comminuting solid matter in said products and discharging said products into said products discharge passage; and

a spray head adapted for connection to a water source, means positioning said spray head in said housing for directing a spray of water into the burning prodputs advancing to said impeller for quenching combustion and mixing and joint centrifuging of said products and water by said impeller and Wetting said solid matter and delivery of the centrifuged products and water to said discharge passage.

2. An incinerator as defined in claim 1, and means connected to said discharge passage and providing a settling chamber for separating gaseous and solid matter.

3. An incinerator as defined in claim 2, wherein said settling chamber is formed with an upper portion for accumulating gaseous matter at a pressure higher than the pressure in said combustion chamber, and conduit means connecting said upper portion to said combustion chamber for recirculation of gases to said combustion chamber.

4. An incinerator as defined in claim 3, and a sump mounted below said settling chamber and connected thereto for gravitational flow of liquid from said settling chamber to said sump, a discharge pipe connected to said sump in a manner maintaining a liquid level therein, said sump being formed to provide a gaseous chamber over said liquid level, and a stack connected to said sump gaseous chamber.

5. An incinerator as defined in claim 4, and a manually controlled valve mounted in said stack for opening and closing flow therein and arranged upon closing to effect an increase in pressure in and for flushing out of said sump.

6. An incinerator as defined in claim 1, said impeller comprising a backing plate mounted co-axially with and substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said impeller and having a side confronting said combustion chamber, and a plurality of radial vanes mounted on said side.

7. An incinerator as defined in claim 3, said upper portion comprising, a pair of enclosed stacks, and said conduit means being connected to said stacks near the top thereof and to said combustion chamber on opposite sides thereof.

8. An incinerator as defined in claim 1 wherein said air inlet opening and said impeller chamber are disposed on opposite sides of said combustion chamber whereby air is drawn across said chamber by said impeller.

9. An incinerator as defined in claim 8, and a self-regulating valve mounted in said air inlet opening for admitting air to said combustion chamber in accordance with combustion requirements therein.

10. An incinerator as defined in claim 1, means providing a settling chamber connected to said discharge passage downstream from said impeller for separating gaseous and solid matter, said conduit means being connected to a lower portion of said settling chamber, and second conduit means connected to an upper portion of said settling chamber and to said combustion chamber for recirculation of gases and entrained matter from said settling chamber to said combustion chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,913 4/1915 Nye 110-49 1,617,534 2/1927 Matheus. 2,811,222 10/1957 Leech -237 X 3,310,009 3/1967 Jacobs -8 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 110-48 

